Dyeing apparatus.



R. DIEDERICHS. DYEING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1;, 1906.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nu: NORRIS FBYERS cm, wnsmucrou, o. 1:

R. DIEDERIOHS.

DYEING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIONHFILED MAY 12. 1908.

Patented Nov. 17,1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: NORRIS P5151: cc., wAsumcnm. n. c.

ROBERT DIEDERIGHS, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

DYEING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17', 1908.

Application filed May 12, 1908. Serial No. 432,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DIEDERICHS, a citizen of Germany, residing atCologne-onthe-Rhine, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Dyeing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a dyeing apparatus more particularly adaptedfor treating textile materials, as well as for mixing chemicals, dyeingmaterials, oils, etc., with the liquids used.

The characteristic feature of the apparatus consists in the provision ina receptacle for the material to be treated of a double bottom, thelower of these bottoms being made in the form of a trough andterminating towards the middle in a cone, and the upper bottom, whichmay be adapted to the form of the lower one, being perforated in themanner of a sieve, passages being also provided which run upwards fromthe space between the bottoms, and lead into the receptacle, so that byraising and lowering a suction bell a circulation of the fluid isinduced. Owing to the bulged shape of the bottoms, dead corners areavoided and an unimpeded circulation of the liquid is insured, so thatthe bell may be readily lifted off its support without producing anyundue suction.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a vertical central sectionthrough my improved dyeing apparatus; Fig l a detail of the perforatedbottom, showing it provided with wire gauze; Fig. 2 diagrammatic view,showing a number of dyeing apparati with their parts in differentpositions, and Fig. 3 a similar view, illustrating the means foroperating the vessels and bells.

In the form of the apparatus as shown, a second vessel 6, is inserted ina vessel a, the cross section of the same being less than that of thevessel a. The space 0, thereby created betweenthe sides of the twovessels serves as a passage for effecting the circulation of the liquid.The inserted vessel Z), is supported through the medium of a flangedring d, or the like on the upper edge of the vessel a. This ringlikewise closes the passage c, and thus prevents the liquid fromSpurting out while the machine is working.

The inserted vessel Z), is provided at the height of the normal level ofthe liquid with several rows of holes 6, through which the liquid flowsduring its circulation, which occurs through the passage 0, and theperforated bottom 7, of the inserted vessel Z).

The bottom f, is curved from the sides inwards, as shown, and in themiddle is arched upwards. The middle of the bottom 7", rests on thesupport 9.

The inserted vessel Z), can be taken out and can be attached to theprincipal vessel a, by means of lever clamps or the like.

By means of a pin it, fixed to the support and engaging in a holesituated in the middle of the bottom, and pins 2', provided above in thecasing a, and engaging in openings in the angular ring (Z, the vesselZ), is

held perfectly concentric in the vessel a, so

that the passage 0, is of the same width throughout. The vessel Z), isput in and taken out of the principal vessel a, by means of a suitableliftin device, such as chains 6 engaging rollers Z) The material to betreated is put into the vessel 6, and placed therewith in the principalvessel a, after the bath has been prepared in the latter. The bath mayalso be prepared after the vessel Z), has been inserted. lVhen fibrousmaterial is treated a similarly shaped bottom made of narrow mesh wiregauze is also laid on the perforated bottom f, in order to prevent thefibrous material from falling through the perforated bottom.

The bath is prepared in the following manner :l/Vater under pressure is,run into the vessel 44, through the pipe is, and flows upwards throughthe perforated bottom 7", of the vessel Z), and the annular passage 0,until it reaches the overflow pipe 1. This pipe is then closed by thecock m, and the supply of water stopped. The raising of the temperatureof the liquid to boiling heat is effected by steam, which is conveyedthrough the pipe n, into the steam chamber 0, from which the water ofcondensation that is formed is carried off through the pipe 7). Theupper wall of the steam chamber pre sents a relatively large heatingsurface, which quickly heats the liquid to the boiling point, especiallyif steam be let in at the same time as the water begins to enter. henthe bath has been prepared, the suction bell 9, held in the raisedposition until the vessel Z), is introduced, is lowered into the workingposition and the machine started. By means of the lever device t,connected with the eccentric disk 1*, on the shaft 8, the suction bellis lowered and raised. lVhen the bell is in its highest position, thelower edge thereof is always above the level of the liquid. The top ofthe bell is provided with openings which are covered by a flap 9 made offelt,.asbestos, 01' the like. Then the bell is immersed in the liquid,the fiap is raised by the air escaping out of the bell and by a part ofthe liquid, while the liquid pressed by and forced out of the materialbeing treated flows through the bottom of the vessel Z), into the vessela, from there around the circular edge of the bottom into the annularpassage 0, and through the rows of holes 6, again over the bell which isnow in its lowest position, in which it is retained for a short time.The material being treated is thus compressed more or less through thebell accordingly as the stroke of the bell is regulated. When the bellrises again the fiap lies firmly against and closes the openings in thetop. The material is thereby subjected to suction through the bell andis raised, thus being loosened and a rarefication of air is produced inthe material, which thereby takes up the liquid again. The part of theliquid which is above the bell when the latter is in the lowestposition, is almost instantaneously drawn downwards and into the vessela, concentrically through the perforation e, in the side of the insertedvessel and the passage 0, and flows upwards in an exceedingly powerfulstream over a smooth path on the conical bottom 7, and passes throughthe perforated bottom 7', towards the middle of the material containedin the vessel Z). Here the stream not only promotes the raising of thematerial through the bell, but contributes essentially to a furtherloosening of the superposed layers of material, without altering theirposition. When the bottom of the bell emerges from the liquid it allowswhat is contained in it to fall, in consequence of the destruction ofthe vacuum then taking place. This effect of the circulation is solelydue to the trough-shaped construction of the bottom j, of the vessel a,in conjunction with the form of the bottom f, of the vessel 5, adaptedthereto, whereby any resistance to the circulation of the liquid isobviated. As there are no dead corners the force of the stream is quiteuniform throughout the liquid, so that all parts are equally well servedwith liquid. In this way a cycle like flow is insured and thereby, asdistinguished from the case in which the bottoms of the receptacle forthe liquid are of usual flat horizontal kind, any retention of theliquid and consequent impediment in the circulation are avoided.continuous and rapidly changing circulation of the liquid, the latter islikewise heated throughout in the troughed part of the apparatus throughthe action of this part as a heating surface, and therefore can at anytime be brought to and maintained at the desired temperature. ragain,all parts of the material are at the same temperature, there being nodirect contact between the material In the above described and theheating surface. There is, however,

no cooling of the different parts of the liquid, as long as the pressureof steam remains the same. This is always maintained in the known mannerby a regulating valve.

The apparatus is also particularly suitable for making additions ofchemicals'and dyeing materials for the different processes of treatment,without interrupting these processes. In the form of the inventionshown, the chemicals and dying materials to be added, are placed in astate of solution in the hopper a, which is firmly connected with thepipe Z. This pipe runs into the passage 0, and can be closed by thethree-way cock m. The cock is closed when the hopper is filled. The cockis opened when the bell reaches the lowest point of immersion. Thecontents of the hopper are then drawn under the middle of the receptacle6, for the materials to be dyed when the bell ascends and just soquickly distributed uniformly throughout the liquid and broughtultimately into contact in the same degree with every fiber of thematerial. Before the bell is immersed again, the cock is re-closed, inorder that when the liquid rises in the passage it may not spurt outthrough the hopper.

In the form shown the pipe Z, acts as an inlet for the chemicals,coloring materials, etc., and as an overflow pipe for the liquid in therinsing process. The inlet and the overflow may be arrangedindependently of each other in different parts of the vessel a.

As distinguished from the usual apparatus with stirring mechanism orcircling liquid, no portion of this material, whether large or small,can be deposited through its specific gravity on the bottom of theliquid receptacle and be there forced into dead corners, so that it doesnot come into action on the cloth and is lost when the liquid is drawnoff. The trough like form of the bottom and the absence of any deadcorners prevent any deposit occurring in the constantly changing cycleof the liquid.

If the effect of the treatment of the work is to be tested during theprocess, then the block 1;, is released and the rod q, which can then bemoved in the sleeve 10, is raised by pulling the cord :20, and fixed sothat the examination may be effected and, if necessary, the vessel Z),for the material treated with its contents can be easily lifted out ofthe liquid. In the same manner the vessel and the bell are returned tothe working position without its being necessary to stop the machine.

Generally the vessel a, is open at the top or only closed lightly with acover. If it is desired to close the vessel a, tightly, as is necessarywith the employment of many kinds of coloring material and thoseprocesses in which exclusion of air is indispensable, the cover a, lyingabove the bell and be produced by loosening the block 4), in the sleeve10, and then lowering and raising the bell by hand by means of the cord:0. Thereby it is possible even with the air excluded to let the liquidand the material to be dyed rest, or to actuate both more or lessvigorously. The former may be of special importance for the treatment ofdifficult coloring material, the latter in the employment of sulfur diesand the like. It may here be observed that the shaft 8, is only intendedto make from 15 to 18 revolutions per minute.

If the rinsing process is to be begun the feed water pipe is, is opened,as likewise the cock m, of the overflow pipe Z. The dirt residues ofdyeing material, chemicals and the like to be removed from the materialbeing treated, are washed away upwards and carried off through theoverflow opening Z, into the outlet. If the vessel is to be emptied, thedischarge pipe y, is opened, whereby the liquid is likewise conveyedthrough the outlet or may be intercepted for the purpose of beingemployed again.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, two series ofapparatus of the kind are arranged opposite one another with a spacebetween for the workman. In any apparatus a different material can betreated, for example dyed, and any material can be dyed in a differentway.

As a matter of course the same kind of material can be treated in thesame manner and by the same processes in all the apparatus, in whichcase a series of apparatus are connected by pipes, so that the liquid inall the vessels is thoroughly and permanently uniform in concentration,mixture and temperature. By closing the cooks arranged in theseconnecting pipes, two or more compartments for the purpose of the sametreatment can be connected with one another. The number of compartmentswhich can be connected in this manner is only limited by the spaceavailable at any time for the installation. If a larger number ofcompartments for the purpose of the same treatment be connected, thechemicals, dyeing materials or the like can be conveyed into thedifferent compartments simultaneously by putting the whole quantity ofthe added liquid into one vessel, in which thorough mixing is effectedby the action of a suction bell, whereupon by opening a cock, the liquidis conducted through pipes into the different apparatus. In the washingand bleaching operations which frequently precede the dyeing process,this connection of a number of compartments insures a continuous processwhich can be applied in the same manner to all other operations. Forthis purpose a number of interchangeable inserted vessels Z), arenecessary.

An inserted vessel Z), is filled with the allowable quantity of materialto be treated and is placed in the principal vessel of the firstcompartment. \Vhile in this the material is being well preliminarilysoftened and washed by the action of the bell, a second vessel b, isfilled with material to be treated and after a certain time is put inthe first compartment after the inserted vessel which is therein hasbeen removed, and conveyed on the rollers which run on the rails .2, tothe second compartment in which the first soap bath is prepared. Thefirst inserted vessel is then put in the third apparatus or compartmentwhich contains a warm rinsing bath. The material is then treated in thefourth compartment with the second soap bath, in the fifth compartmentwith the bleaching material, and in the sixth compartment is thoroughlyrinsed. The inserted vessel is removed from the sixth compartment and isput into a tilting device which empties the material into a carriage bywhich it is conveyed to the centrifugal machine. The empty insertedvessel is then filled with fresh material to be treated and is carriedback therewith the same way. By means of the tilting device thedifficulties associated with the delivery of certain kinds and forms oftreated material, and which the fabric could not bear, are avoided. Inthe process described, the treatment of the material is effected withoutthe material being put in and taken out in the difierent operations, andwithout its being touched by hand, with levers, rods or the like. Forspecial forms of material for example yarn, in hanks and the like, theemptying of the inserted vessel may be effected in any other suitablemanner instead of by tilting.

By the continuous introduction of filled inserted vessels 6, into thevessel a, of the second compartment, a continuous working is effectedwhich, as distinguished from the process as now usual, insures aconstantly uniform working result with uninterrupted use of theapparatus. The consequence of this is that when large quantities ofmaterial are treated in the succeeding operations by machinery and byhand work, the work effected is more uniform and always equal, wherebyon the one hand excessive labor and strain, and on the other handintervals during which the machinery and the workmen are idle areavoided.

I claim: forated Wall and a perforated coniform bot- 1. A dyeingapparatus comprising an outer tom, and a bell adapted to be receivedWithin vessel having a ooniform bottom, an inclosed the inner vessel,substantially as specified. spaced inner vessel having a perforated WallSigned by me at Cologne, Germany, this 5 and a perforated coniformbottom, and a bell 22nd day of April 1908.

adapted to be received Within the inner vessel, substantially asspecified. ROBERT DIEDERIOHS 2. A dyeing apparatus comprising a jack-Vitnesses: eted outer vessel having a ooniform bottom, PETER KRAUsE, 10an inclosed spaced inner vessel having a per- Louis VANDORN.

